Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1887-08-17
Nothing Like It in the Record.


The work of the Bureau of Pen
sions for the fiscal year ending June
30, 1887, makes a remarkable show
ing. The total number of pension
certificates of all kinds issued was
112, $40, of which 80, 1914 were origin
al allowances. The greatest previous
record ever made was in 1866, when
the original allowances amounted to
50,176, balance in favor of the year
just closed of 5,017. In 1865 but lit
tie was required to prove case-in
fact, the vast majority were establish
ed upon the record evidence obtained
from the War Department. When it
is remembered that % years have
elapsed since the close Of the war, and
that the diffiuclty of establishing
claims for pensions has very largely
increased, the Pension Bureau under
Gen. Blacks management has surpass-
ed the best record ever made since its
existence.
During the fiscal year ending June
80, 1885, the number of all kinds Of
certificates issued was 52,971, of which
3S,061 were original allowances. In
the fiscal year of 1884 the number is
sued was 56,720, of which 1870 were
original allowances. In the following
fiscal year the number Of allowances
was 70,SS6, among which were 1871
original allowances. In the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1886, under the
improved methods inaugurated by
Gen. Black, there were 1854 allow
anccs, of which 40,S52 were original
claims. The average number of
clerks employed in the fiscal year of
1884 was | $40, in the fiscal year
of 1SS4-85, 1923. In the fiscal year
Of 18S5-S6, 1 ,511, and in the last fis-
cal year 1880. The average working
time of the clerical force in the fiscal
year of 1S84-85 was 266 days, and in
the following year under Gen. Blacks
administration was increased to 281
days, and for the fiscal year just clos
ed it was about the same.
The total number Of claims of all
kinds filed during the year was 49,
$40, including 81 1897 original, LOG, 347
increase claims, and 1927 Mexican
war claims. The receipts of mail
matter for the year show marked
increase in the volume Of business of
the Office. There were received O.
234,331 pieces of all matter, and l.
792,052 were sent out, making total
of 1925, 1888 pieces handled, or an av-
erage of 12,701 pieces each working
day of the year.
The average working force of the
bureau for the year was l $50, and the
amount of time lost by reason of an
nual leaves, sick leaves, and leaves
without pay, equaled the time of 1853
employees for one year, making an
average of l. 72 employees, including
messengers, watchmen. laborers, etc.
The time lost by the clerical force
during the year averaged % days an
nual leave, u days sick leave. and
2 2-25 days without pay.
In the Army and Navy Surveyors
Division the speciality of which is
the furnishing of the names and post
office addresses of officers and COM
rades, whose evidence may be found
to be necessary in the adjudication of
pension claims, the work has been
more than satisfactory. There were
sent out the names and addresses of
1872 of officers and comrades,
which information assisted In tho adj
Indication of 126,029 cases. With
out the help furnished by this division
it would have been impossible for
many poor soldier to have obtained
his pension. The division is also. bus
lily employed in perfecting the record
of ex-prisoners of war, which will be
of incaIculable benefit to the bureau
and the claimant who was captured
by the enemy during his term Of SER
vice. Two thousand six hundred and
fifty-6ve appeals from the action of
the bureau TO the Secretary of the
Interior we're pending In the law divi-
sion at the beginning of the fiscal year,
and 2,649 new cases we're received,
waking a total of 1904 cases.
OF this number 1855 we're reopen
cd and referred with proper reports to
the Secretary of the Interior for his
decision and action. To show how
we'll the work of this division has